Childhood Abuse and Neglect and Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome Essay

Introduction This study briefly reviews complex psychic trauma and discusses how it manifests in adolescents with a biography of childhood abuse and neglect. A history of childhood abuse and neglect often leads to long-term stirred, behavioral and physical dysregulation that do not always kick the bucket the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) diagnostic criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This has led to the proposal of a separate only if related diagnosis termed Developmental Trauma Disorder (Cook, Blaustein, Spinazzola & van der Kolk, 2003 van der Kolk, 2005 Najjar, Weller, Weisbrot & Weller, 2008). This diagnosis is based on an assessment of the literature on complex trauma and its long-term mental and physical health consequences. In this study, we will review the following 1) the scope of complex trauma in terms of its general involve on individuals and society 2) a description of the phenomeno logy of complex trauma 3) the developmental impact of complex trauma on adolescents and 4) the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of complex trauma in adolescents.Complex trauma refers to both the exposures and the developmental impact of long-term exposure to traumatic events during childhood and adolescence. Traumatic exposures are commonly of an interpersonal nature, including childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect. Traumatic exposures can also include repeated surgical procedures, chemotherapy or other adverse events during childhood. Complex trauma has a significant developmental impact across the life-span. In a large epidemiological survey, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, of more than 17,000 adults from the general popula... ...icine, 14, 245-258.Gabowitz, D., Zucker, M., & Cook, A. (2008) Neuropsychological assessment in clinical military rank of children and adolescents with complex trauma. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 1, 163-178.Najjar, F., Weller, R.A. Weisbrot, J., & Weller, E. B. (2008). Post-traumatic filter disorder its treatment in children and adolescents. Current Psychiatry Reports, 40, 104-108.Perrin, S., Smith, P., & Yule, W. (2000). Practitioner Review The assessment and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41, 227-280.Van der Kolk, B. A. (2005). Developmental trauma disorder. Psychiatric Times, 35, 401-408.Weiss, D., S. (2004). The Impact of Events Scale Revised. In J. P. Wilson, & T. M. Keane (Eds.), Assessing Psychological Trauma and PTSD. late York Guilford.